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Choose alternatives to peat

The National Trust has a policy of gardening without peat, and only sells plants grown without its use

Choosing alternatives to peat when you buy soils and fertilisers is one of the most important things you can do to make your garden greener. (Soils and fertilisers are also known as 'growing media'.)

Peat-free products are widely available at high street stores and garden centres. Check that the bag says 'peat-free' or ask an assistant if it’s not clear.

There are alternative options for the various uses of peat in the garden.

Mulch
If you’re looking for mulch (material placed on top of soil to keep down weeds and conserve moisture) consider bark or leaf mould based materials. These work much better than peat, which breaks down too easily.

Growing media
When you want to grow plants and seedlings, look for products that contain:

• bark
• wood fibre
• coir (coconut fibre)
• spent mushroom compost (this is compost previously used by mushroom growers)

These alternatives can work as well as peat, provided you follow the feeding and watering instructions.

Soil conditioner and fertiliser
Try improving your soil with conditioners based on wood waste, leaf mould, farmyard manure or home compost.

You can also use 'green manures' to improve the condition and fertility of your soil. Green manures are fast-growing plants sown to cover bare soil. When used in the vegetable garden, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green, they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.

• Using peat-free compost in the garden Opens new window

• Peat-free growing media - Royal Horticultural Society Opens new window

• How to use green manures - Royal Horticultural Society Opens new window

Get advice on peat-free products

The Wildlife Trusts produce a leaflet with information about where to buy peat-free products. If you can't download the PDF file from the link below, you can request a copy by phoning 0870 036 7711. They can also tell you about visiting a peatland reserve near you to see what you've helped look after. Follow the Wildlife Trusts link in 'More useful links' for more information.

Natural England produces a downloadable document on composting and peat-free gardening.

• Download 'Where to buy peat-free products' from the Wildlife Trusts (PDF document, 237K) Opens new window

• Download 'Composting and peat-free gardening' (PDF document, 1MB) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Start making your own compost

Having a compost bin or starting a compost heap means you can use your kitchen and garden waste to improve your soil. It’s a greener way of gardening because:

• you can avoid using peat
• you don’t have to rely on artificial fertilisers, which take a lot of energy to make and can cause water pollution
• you throw less away
• you can save money

Some councils provide composting bins or sell them at reduced prices.

• Composting

• Find out how to get a compost bin Opens new window

• Recycle Now - Guide to home composting Opens new window

The wider issue

Peat bogs provide unique wildlife habitats and are valuable stores of carbon; globally, peat bogs hold more carbon than the world’s forests. When peat is extracted, carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Large areas of these important habitats have been damaged in the UK and abroad by the commercial use of peat. Although some UK peatlands are now protected, many in Europe are not, and this is where most of the UK's garden peat comes from.

• Climate change: a quick guide

• Why use peat-free compost? Opens new window

More useful links

• Peat-free gardening tips from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew Opens new window

• Recycling in the garden - RecycleNow Opens new window

• Find your local Wildlife Trust Opens new window

• Natural England website Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Environment and Greener Living contacts